Okay, here's the challenge: Try to find 10 pieces of furniture that look good but don't cost more than $100. We're not talking heirlooms here, just stylish furniture bargains that are ideal for a dorm or first apartment, or a space that only gets occasional use, like a cabin or guest room. Some pieces--like lamps and tables--were easy to find. Others--like chairs and sofas--proved more challenging (and inspired my one price breach). A few look so good, no one will guess how little you spent.
Kicky and contemporary, the
Window Seat Chair from CB2 looks like a mid-century classic, but it's only $69.95. The seat and back are made from a single piece of bent plywood that's wider in the seat for extra comfort, and it's available in four different colors.
So it's made from 100-percent Olefin, not sisal. But the
Laguna area rug from Shaw's Terrace collection is still a handsome-looking carpet, and at just $59 for the 5'6" x 7'6" size at RugsDirect.com, you can't argue with the price. (An 8' x 10' version is only $60 more.) The subtle tone-on-tone herringbone pattern adds interest underfoot and will help hide spills, while the polypropylene construction is easy to clean and durable enough to withstand abuse.
They call it the
Manhattan Chair, but you'd be hard-pressed to find any upholstered chair for $99.99 in the Big Apple. Head to your nearby Linens-n-Things, however, and you can snag this smart-looking piece featuring a wood frame, metal legs and your choice of either red or black leather (made from really cheap cows?). Act fast, though--this baby has been marked down from $199.99, so it probably won't last long.
Here's a high-priced look for a bargain-basement price. The
Dolce Dark Walnut Folding Bookcase from Target holds books, CDs, bric-a-brac--you name it--on four wooden shelves. It folds for easy setup and moving, and features a wood finish that past purchasers claim is more cherry-colored than walnut. At only four feet high, it's not substantial, but would look good paired with another one on either side of a doorway. At $59.99 each, you can afford it!
The Martha Stewart Everyday collection at Kmart is a great source for attractive, inexpensive furniture. I particularly like the classic lines of the
Coffee Table. Its oval top conceals a shallow drawer, while the stretchers below add stability and an elegant note. Best of all: it's only $99.99.
At $49.99, just one of these lamps would be a bargain. But you get
two for that price, making the
Martha Stewart Everyday Adjustable Table & Floor Lamp Set from Kmart hard to resist. You get a brushed-steel-finish floor lamp that adjusts from 49.5 inches to 62 inches, and a companion table lamp that also changes height. The design is classy and understated--the kind of thing that would go with almost any decor--and each lamp comes with a fabric shade included. It's a
very good thing.
Nice design, nice proportions, nice price! The
Aneboda chest from IKEA looks far more classy than its $69.99 price tag would suggest. You get particleboard construction in a light wood finish with polypropylene inlays in the three drawer fronts for a dash of contemporary style.
The last time I saw this set of nesting tables at IKEA I had to look at the price tag twice to make sure I wasn't seeing things. The
Klubbo tables are modern and handsome (particularly when purchased with the black-brown top, as opposed to the white top), with chunky particleboard tops that look a bit like concrete, and powder-coated steel legs. You can stack them together to save space or spread them out when company comes. Pretty handy for just $59.99.
You may not think of a folding screen as a decorating essential, but it's a great way to hide storage, add architecture to a room, divide spaces in compact quarters, or liven up a dead corner. Target's
Island Collection Folding Screen is fashioned from poplar and fitted with hand-scorched rattan panels for textural interest. Peekaboo slats at the bottom and top allow light and views to filter through. It's only $79.99.
Okay, so I cheated. You didn't really expect me to find a sofa for under $100, did you? Although it costs nearly double that, IKEA's
Klippan Loveseat is still a bargain, and a pretty good-looking one, at that. The wood frame sports zig-zag steel springs, polyurethane foam padding and a white cotton cover. (Extra covers are available.) Nearly six feet long, the sofa retails for $199.
